Colorado Craft Beer Week and more on the culinary calendar

The third annual Colorado Craft Beer Week begins today. The festival -- which is run by the nonprofit Colorado Brewers Guild -- features a series of beer dinners, tap takeovers, brewer meet-and-greets and other along the Front Range.

Falling Rock Tap House, 1919 Blake Street, will kick the week off with a Colorado tap takeover that will include beers from eighty Guild members at 6 p.m. this evening. Visit the website for the full schedule of events.

The Kitchen is celebrating the first anniversary of its Denver location at 1530 16th Street tonight with a special community meal. The family-style dinner costs $35 (drinks not included); call 303-623-3127 for reservations.

Tuesday, March 19:

The Kitchen Denver is also hosting a beer dinner at 6 p.m. tonight in honor of Craft Beer Week. For $90, you can enjoy a five-course dinner paired with different Colorado beers. Representatives from each brewery will be on hand to share stories; call 303-623-3127 for more information.

Tuesday, March 19 (continued):

Charcoal, 43 West Ninth Avenue, has introduced a new chef's dinner series, when each chef in Charcoal's kitchen is given the opportunity to create a menu for an evening. Tonight, Michael Neale presents an eleven-course dinner focused on experimentation. There are eighteen seats, and the cost is $59 ($94 with drink pairings); call the restaurant at 303-454-0000 to learn more.

Wednesday, March 20:

The Lobby American Grille, 2191 Arapahoe Street, is hosting a Dry Dock Beer Dinner tonight featuring dishes from executive chef Nate Gravina paired with Dry Dock's Dark Saison, HMS Bounty Old Ale and Vanilla Porter. One course will also be served with a beer cocktail made with Apricot Blonde and Disaronno. Tickets are $45 per person (before tax and gratuity). Reservations are required; call 303-997-9911.

Left Hand Brewing in Longmont will debut the Hops & Handrails Beer Fest & Rail Jam today.The family-friendly fest, which is also part of Colorado Craft Beer Week, features 23 Colorado breweries, live music, food and a new 25-foot-high ramp, where 80 snowboarders and skiers will perform. The event runs from 2 to 7 p.m. and benefits three nonprofits: A Woman's Work, SOS Outreach and the Colorado Brewers Guild. Tickets are $35; go to the brewery's website for more information.

For information on dozens of culinary events around town, visit our online Food & Drink listings -- and if you have information for a culinary event you'd like included in our online calendar, send it to cafe@westword.com.